Council Offices to become new wedding venue for Selby

Civil weddings and partnerships are set to switch from the County Council's outpost on Union Lane to the modern surrounds offered by the District Council at its multi-million pound new base on Doncaster Road.

Hailing the changes as major improvements to the registration service in the Selby area, the Councils say the changes will mean couples getting married or entering into civil partnerships will be able to ‘celebrate in style’ in its ‘brighter, more modern rooms’.

Amongst the improvements being trumpeted are more room for ceremonies, an increase in parking spaces for guests, a café, and better facilities for photographing wedding groups.

The move from the existing Register Office to new shared facilities is part of a scheme the two Councils are calling ‘Better Together’. The programme, which ironically shares its name with a campaign desperately trying to persuade Scots to stave off national divorce, is a partnership arrangement bringing the two councils closer together in order to share resources, facilities and services to make local governance cheaper to run.

Cllr Chris Metcalfe (Con, Tadcaster), who sits on the Executives of both SDC and NYCC, said, “The new service will be brighter and better in every way.

“The new location will be marvellous for weddings and civil partnerships, and all the other users of the Registration Service - those registering births and so on - will also enjoy a much better experience.”

Mary Weastell, dual-hatted SDC Chief Executive and NYCC Assistant Chief Executive, added, “Better together is all about being more efficient with taxpayers' money while ensuring that the high standards of service they have come to expect are maintained and even improved.

“This is an excellent example of how the partnership arrangement between our two authorities is delivering efficiency and better customer service simultaneously.”